Desk-mate, Do You Like Me? - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

The next morning, a drizzling autumn rain fell on City A, dropping the temperature further. When Li Mo woke up, the sky outside the window was gray and dreary.

He checked his phone; it was seven a.m., with no new messages. Although he desperately wanted to stay in bed, the thought of Xu Qing made him quickly get up.

He washed up, got dressed, and tried in vain to flatten his unruly hair in the mirror. The cast on his right arm looked especially clumsy and inconvenient in the chilly morning light. He glanced at the wet streets outside, grabbed his umbrella, and left the house.

It was a weekend morning, compounded by rain, so there weren’t many pedestrians on the streets.

When Li Mo arrived at the noodle shop, the aroma of noodles was already drifting through the air. Only two or three people were seated inside.

Hearing the door open, Xu Qing, who was tidying the counter, didn’t look up and said, “Find a seat and wait.”

“Got it.” Li Mo found a corner spot to sit. From here, with his back to the wall, he could look up and see Xu Qing.

Li Mo sat still, his gaze fixed on Xu Qing. The teenager was wearing a clean white short-sleeved shirt with a light gray jacket over it, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. He was currently wiping the counter with a rag, meticulously cleaning every crevice.

The rain hit the glass door, leaving fine streaks of water. This made Xu Qing’s figure appear slightly hazy but particularly reassuring.

Soon, Xu Qing walked over with an enamel bowl. Inside the bowl were two soft-boiled eggs, and beside it lay a warm red bean bun.

“Eat the bun first. The noodles will take two more minutes.” He placed the bowl in front of Li Mo. His gaze swept over Li Mo’s still slightly messy hair, and he reached out and casually smoothed it down twice. “Looks like a chicken coop.”

Li Mo’s ears instantly felt hot. He instinctively wanted to dodge but was afraid of touching Xu Qing’s hand, so he could only remain stiff: “I… I combed it this morning.”

“Combed or not, it looks the same.” Xu Qing retracted his hand and turned to walk towards the kitchen. After two steps, he looked back. “Put the umbrella on the hook by the door. Don’t wet the floor.”

Li Mo quickly picked up the umbrella and limped to the door to hang it up—his leg had fallen asleep while doing homework last night, and it was still a bit sore.

By the time he sat back down, Xu Qing had brought over a bowl of hot soup noodles. Emerald green vegetables and a few thin slices of meat floated on the surface. The steam was so thick it warmed his face.

“Eat slowly. Don’t burn yourself.” Xu Qing sat down across from him, poured himself a cup of hot water, and frowned slightly as he watched Li Mo cautiously use his left hand to hold his chopsticks. “When does the cast come off?”

“The doctor said half a month more.” Li Mo took a bite of the noodles. The hot soup slid into his stomach, driving away the cold. “But it’s fine. I’m much faster at writing with my left hand now.”

Xu Qing “Mhm’d,” his gaze lingering on Li Mo’s casted right arm. After a few seconds of silence, he said, “If you’re free this afternoon, come with me somewhere.”

Li Mo looked up, confusion in his eyes: “Where?”

“You’ll know when we get there.” Xu Qing didn’t say more. He just picked up his water cup and took a sip, the corner of his mouth seeming to curl into an extremely faint arc, so quick it could have been a trick of the light.

Li Mo didn’t press him further, lowering his head to continue eating the noodles. The rain was still falling, making a soft drumming sound on the glass. The noodle shop was fragrant, and Xu Qing was sitting across from him. This kind of weekend morning was much warmer than he had imagined.

He secretly glanced at Xu Qing, who was looking down at his phone. The lines of his profile were exceptionally soft under the light. Li Mo’s heart suddenly missed a beat. He quickly lowered his head, pretending to focus on his noodles.

After finishing the bowl of noodles, Li Mo had a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, and the chill in his body was completely gone. Xu Qing got up to clear the bowls and chopsticks. Li Mo tried to help, but Xu Qing pressed down on his raised left hand.

“Sit still. Don’t add to the trouble with that hand of yours.” Xu Qing’s tone was crisp. He turned and headed into the kitchen with the bowls.

Li Mo watched his retreating figure, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the warm rim of the bowl, feeling a soft warmth in his heart.

When Xu Qing emerged from the kitchen, the noodle shop had gotten a bit busier.

He put on an apron and started busying himself with serving noodles and clearing tables, his steps light but unhurried. Li Mo stayed in the corner, no longer bothering him, and pulled out the practice notebook Xu Qing had given him.

The handwriting in the notebook was neat, the thought process for each problem clearly marked. Occasionally, he used a red pen to jot down common mistakes, much like Xu Qing’s usual speaking style—simple and clear.

It was noon before Li Mo realized it. The rain had slowed to a fine drizzle. Xu Qing greeted Sister Liu, untied his apron, and walked over to Li Mo: “Let’s go.”

Li Mo closed the notebook and followed Xu Qing out. Xu Qing opened a black umbrella, naturally tilting it towards Li Mo: “It’s not far from the station. We’ll walk.”

“Why are we going to the station?” Li Mo finally couldn’t help but ask.

Xu Qing glanced at him. The rain had dampened his hair ends. A few strands of black hair clung to his forehead, making him look less cool than usual: “To buy you something.”

They walked side by side in the rainy alley. The space under the umbrella was small, and their shoulders occasionally brushed gently. Li Mo could smell the faint scent of soap on Xu Qing, mixed with the clean smell of wet earth after the rain, which was particularly refreshing.

At the convenience store next to the station, Xu Qing walked directly to the shelf, picked up two cartons of warm milk, then selected a bag of whole wheat bread and a few packets of nuts, all of which he tucked into Li Mo’s hands: “Your train back to City C is tomorrow afternoon, right? Eat this on the way.”

Li Mo was momentarily stunned. The items in his hands were heavy and still warm from the heated display cabinet: “How did you know I’m going back to City C tomorrow?”

“I heard you when you were on the phone yesterday.” Xu Qing said matter-of-factly. He then picked up a packet of mints and put them in Li Mo’s pocket. “Suck on one if you get carsick.”

Li Mo looked at Xu Qing, his throat suddenly tightening. He hadn’t expected that Xu Qing had remembered something he hadn’t even openly stated.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say “thank you,” but felt the words were too insignificant to express his feelings.

Xu Qing seemed to sense his unease and patted his arm: “Don’t just stand there. Here’s the umbrella for you. I’m heading back to the noodle shop.”

Li Mo took the umbrella, watching Xu Qing turn and walk into the rain. Xu Qing didn’t open his own umbrella. The fine rain fell on him, but he walked steadily, his figure quickly melting into the crowd at the alley entrance.

Li Mo stood still, clutching the warm milk in his hand and looking at the black umbrella. He suddenly felt that this autumn rain wasn’t so cold anymore.

He looked down at the mints in his pocket, the corners of his mouth curving up unconsciously—it turned out that the feeling of being cared for was so warm.

Going back to City C…

Li Mo squeezed the carton of milk. The warmth from his fingertips seeped through the packaging, but it couldn’t suppress the sudden bitterness that arose in his heart.

He thought of Yu Wenxiu’s urging on the phone, the scrutinizing gazes from his relatives, and the possible hostility from Ye Jinlun. His previously warm mood instantly plummeted.

He slowly walked towards his uncle’s house, the rain making a subtle noise on the umbrella.

Passing a fruit store, he paused, looking at the fresh oranges in the glass display—Xu Qing had mentioned he liked sour and sweet things.

He hesitated, then took out his pocket money and bought a bag, tucking it close to his chest. I’ll bring these back for Xu Qing when I return from City C, he thought silently.

Back at the house, Li Mo neatly placed the items Xu Qing had bought on the table, setting the bag of oranges beside them.

He took out his phone and opened the chat with Xu Qing. He wanted to say thank you but didn’t know how to phrase it.

He typed and deleted, typed and deleted, finally sending only one message: 【Xu Qing, thank you, I like them.】

It was robotic.

Soon after, Xu Qing replied: 【…Mhm. Remember to comb your hair tomorrow. It’s ugly, like a dog chewed it.】

The usual tone, but it eased the bitterness in Li Mo’s heart. He looked at the screen, paused his fingers, and added another sentence: 【I bought some oranges. I’ll give them to you when I come back.】

This time, Xu Qing replied quickly: 【Good.】

Just one word, but it brought the smile back to Li Mo’s face.

He put his phone in his pocket and started packing what he needed for City C.

Clothes, homework, and Xu Qing’s practice notebook—he didn’t need to bring those, as he’d be back tomorrow. Looking at it that way, there was hardly anything to pack.

In the evening, Yu Wenxiu called again, repeatedly urging him not to be late tomorrow, to greet the relatives actively, and not to embarrass her.

Li Mo patiently listened, occasionally giving an “Mhm,” but he wished Xu Qing was beside him. Even if he said nothing, his presence would make the situation feel less suffocating.

After hanging up, Li Mo lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

The rain outside had stopped. Moonlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, casting a thin line of light on the floor.

He pulled out his phone and opened the saved screenshot from the video call with Xu Qing. The teenager’s features were clear on the screen, his gaze calm. As Li Mo looked at it, his anxiety gradually subsided, and he slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next afternoon, Li Mo walked to the station with his backpack. Before leaving, he looked again at the oranges on the table, silently thinking: Wait for me to come back.

At the station, he messaged Xu Qing as he had promised: 【I’m at the station, about to board the bus.】

Xu Qing quickly replied: 【Understood.】

Li Mo held his phone and chuckled softly. He reluctantly put the phone away in his backpack just before getting on the bus.

The bus slowly started moving. The streets of City A receded. He looked out the window, but his thoughts were: After I deal with the things in City C, I must come back quickly, back to this place where Xu Qing is, this place that makes me feel warm.

The bus drove out of City A. The scenery outside the window gradually changed from familiar streets to unfamiliar fields.

Li Mo leaned against the window, took out a mint from the packet Xu Qing had given him, peeled it, and put it in his mouth. The cool taste spread on his tongue, suppressing some of the motion sickness.

He took out his phone, wanting to look at his chat history with Xu Qing again, but the signal grew weaker and weaker until it was completely gone.

Frustrated, he could only put away his phone and pull out Xu Qing’s practice notebook from his backpack. He opened the first page, and the sentence, “Don’t let others’ opinions confine you,” came into view again. Li Mo’s heart suddenly felt much calmer.

After an unknown amount of time, the bus finally entered City C.

As soon as he got off the bus, a wind colder than City A’s hit him. Li Mo tightened his jacket. In the distance, he saw Ye Zhong standing by the roadside, a cigarette between his fingers, looking slightly impatient.

“Mo Mo, you must be tired from the long ride? Hurry and get in the car.” Ye Zhong threw the cigarette on the ground, stepped on it, and his expression instantly changed to that of a loving father.

Li Mo didn’t speak, just followed him towards the parking lot. Ye Zhong didn’t speak along the way. Only silence remained between the two.

Arriving at Yu Wenxiu and Ye Zhong’s house, as soon as they opened the door, they heard Ye Jinlun crying: “I don’t want to wear this outfit! It’s ugly!”

“Be good, Jinlun. This outfit is warm. We need to be neat for the dinner today,” Yu Wenxiu’s voice was coaxing.

Seeing Li Mo enter, Yu Wenxiu was momentarily startled, then said: “Mo Mo’s back? Come sit down. Are you tired from the trip?” Her tone wasn’t particularly warm; it was more like fulfilling a duty.

Ye Jinlun stopped crying when he saw Li Mo. His eyes were hostile. He hid behind Yu Wenxiu and whispered, “Mom, I don’t like him.”

But he was sweetly calling me “brother” the last time I was here. Sigh, a child’s heart is a needle in the bottom of the sea.

Yu Wenxiu patted Ye Jinlun’s back and didn’t say anything, just handed Li Mo a glass of water: “Drink some water first. We’ll go to the hotel soon.”

Li Mo took the glass. The coldness of the cup on his fingertips made his heart grow colder. He sat on the sofa, looking at this so-called “home”—elegantly decorated, yet full of unfamiliarity, with no trace of anything that belonged to him.

Soon, Yu Wenxiu hurried Li Mo to leave for the hotel.

Arriving at the hotel private room, it was already filled with relatives. Seeing Li Mo, everyone’s attention focused on him. There was disdain, scrutiny, and some indescribable sentiment. In short, none of the gazes were good.

“This must be Mo Mo? Long time no see. You’ve grown so tall,” a relative said with a smile, his gaze unconsciously falling on Li Mo’s casted right arm.

“Yes, I heard you’re studying in City A? How’s the school there?” another relative asked, her tone carrying a hint of probing.

Li Mo didn’t say much, just occasionally nodding, dealing with the questions. Yu Wenxiu was busy hosting the relatives on the side, occasionally glaring at Li Mo, signaling him to talk more and not dampen everyone’s spirits.

After the dinner started, the relatives’ conversation gradually picked up, mostly centering around Ye Jinlun—”Jinlun is so well-behaved, and his grades are so good,” “Jinlun is sensible, unlike some children who cause worry.”

These words pricked Li Mo’s heart like needles. He quietly ate the food in his bowl; it tasted like sawdust. Suddenly, Ye Jinlun slammed his chopsticks down and shouted: “I don’t want to sit with him! I hate him!”

Everyone’s eyes immediately focused on Li Mo again, and the atmosphere became awkward. Yu Wenxiu quickly soothed Ye Jinlun: “Be good, Jinlun, how about we change seats?” Then she said to Li Mo: “Mo Mo, go sit over there.”

Li Mo stood up, said nothing, and silently walked to the empty seat in the corner.